The NFL wraps up the 2025 regular season with Week 18 on Saturday, January 3 and Sunday, January 4, 2026. Every game pits division rivals against each other one last time before the playoffs start.
The NFL announced the full schedule on December 28, 2025, after Week 17 concluded. The league placed the most important games in prime-time spots based on playoff implications.
2025 NFL Week 18 Schedule
Week 18 brings 16 division games spread across Saturday and Sunday. Both days deliver high-stakes football as teams fight for playoff berths and seeding.
Saturday, January 3
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina @ Tampa Bay | 4:30 PM | ESPN/ABC | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL |
| Seattle @ San Francisco | 8:00 PM | ESPN/ABC | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA |
The NFL picked these two games for Saturday based on playoff drama. Carolina and Tampa Bay battle for the NFC South title. Seattle and San Francisco meet for the NFC West championship and the NFC’s #1 seed.
Sunday, January 4
| MATCHUP | TIME (ET) | TV | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis @ Houston | 1:00 PM | CBS | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Green Bay @ Minnesota | 1:00 PM | CBS | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN |
| Cleveland @ Cincinnati | 1:00 PM | CBS | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Tennessee @ Jacksonville | 1:00 PM | FOX | EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL |
| New Orleans @ Atlanta | 1:00 PM | FOX | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
| Dallas @ NY Giants | 1:00 PM | FOX | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
| LA Chargers @ Denver | 4:25 PM | CBS | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO |
| Washington @ Philadelphia | 4:25 PM | CBS | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
| NY Jets @ Buffalo | 4:25 PM | CBS | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY |
| Kansas City @ Las Vegas | 4:25 PM | CBS | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV |
| Detroit @ Chicago | 4:25 PM | FOX | Soldier Field, Chicago, IL |
| Miami @ New England | 4:25 PM | FOX | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Arizona @ LA Rams | 4:25 PM | FOX | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA |
| Baltimore @ Pittsburgh | 8:20 PM | NBC | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
Sunday brings 14 games across three time windows. Six games start at 1:00 PM ET. Seven games begin at 4:25 PM ET. One prime matchup airs on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 PM ET.
You can grab our free Printable NFL Week 18 Pick’em Sheet to track your predictions.
2025 NFL Week 18 TV Schedule & Streaming Options
Week 18 games appear on ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX and CBS. The league assigned games to networks after Week 17 finished.
Network Breakdown:
- ESPN and ABC split the Saturday doubleheader (2 games)
- CBS shows 7 games on Sunday
- FOX broadcasts 6 games on Sunday
- NBC gets Sunday Night Football (Ravens at Steelers)
The NFL used its flexible scheduling power for Week 18. Games with playoff stakes moved into prime time. The biggest matchups landed on Saturday and Sunday night.
Talk to your cable or satellite provider about accessing these channels.
How to Watch NFL Week 18 Games
- ESPN/ABC Games: Watch on ESPN or ABC. Stream through ESPN Plus and fubo.
- CBS Games: Watch on CBS. Stream through Paramount Plus with Essential or Premium plans.
- FOX Games: Watch on FOX. Stream through fubo, Fox Sports app or YouTube TV.
- NBC Game: Watch on NBC. Stream through Peacock, fubo or NBC Sports app.
- NFL Plus Mobile: Stream all local and primetime games on your phone or tablet.
Week 18 Bye Teams
Every team plays in Week 18. The regular season ends with all 32 teams on the field.
Week 18 Playoff Implications
Division Championships at Stake:
- NFC West: Seattle at San Francisco – Winner takes division and NFC #1 seed
- NFC South: Carolina at Tampa Bay – Winner likely claims division title
- AFC North: Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Winner takes division, loser eliminated
- AFC South: Jacksonville clinches with win over Tennessee
Key Seeding Games:
- LA Chargers at Denver affects AFC #1 seed race
- Multiple games impact wild card positioning in both conferences
2025 NFL Week 18 Games FAQs
How many games are in NFL Week 18 2025?
Week 18 features 16 games total. Two games happen on Saturday. Fourteen games take place on Sunday. All games match up division rivals for the final regular season contest.
What is the biggest game of NFL Week 18 2025?
Seattle at San Francisco on Saturday night decides the NFC West title and the NFC’s #1 seed. Baltimore at Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football determines the AFC North champion with the loser eliminated from playoff contention.
Can I watch NFL Week 18 games without cable?
Yes. Paramount Plus carries CBS games. Peacock streams NBC games. ESPN Plus covers ESPN and ABC games. Fubo and YouTube TV offer most networks in one package. NFL Plus handles mobile streaming for local and national games.
Which Week 18 game has the best playoff implications?
Four games carry major playoff stakes. Seattle at San Francisco decides the NFC’s #1 seed. Baltimore at Pittsburgh is an elimination game for the AFC North title. Carolina at Tampa Bay likely settles the NFC South. Tennessee at Jacksonville determines the AFC South champion.
When did the NFL announce the Week 18 schedule?
The league released times and networks on December 28, 2025, after Week 17 wrapped up. Sports networks and NFL.com posted the schedule immediately. The announcement came Sunday night following the final Week 17 game.
Why are all Week 18 games divisional matchups?
Division games create natural rivalries and playoff tension. Teams already played each other twice. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This setup has worked for 16 straight years. It guarantees meaningful games instead of mismatches between teams from different divisions.
